Departments of Education
Whether or not a state adopts the Common Core State Standards, Departments of Education can still incorporate Lexile measures into their English Language Arts curriculum and assessment programs to make sure students are adequately prepared to meet the text demands of their postsecondary pursuits by:
1. Linking assessment programs with the Lexile® Framework
The Common Core State Standards Initiative supports the development of "next-generation" assessments that provide the data necessary to support decision making at all levels. That is, these new assessments should provide indicators—such as a Lexile measure—that determine if students are: 1) ready or "on track" to be ready for college and careers; 2) growing over time, in addition to annual performance against standards; and 3) comparable with their international peers.
- For a list of assessments that report Lexile measures, click here.
- For a list of reading programs that report Lexile measures, click here.
For more information on linking an assessment with the Lexile Framework, click here. For sample Lexile-linking language to include in a state testing Request for Proposal (RFP), click here. For more information on developing a new, Lexile-linked assessment, contact Anne Schiano, Senior Vice President for Government Relations, at aschiano@lexile.com.
2. Requesting that textbooks have Lexile measures
MetaMetrics works with publishers to assign certified Lexile measures to their textbooks and other instructional resources. Of the 26 textbook-adoption states, six already recommend that publishers provide Lexile measures for their textbooks to better support differentiated instruction in the classroom.
- For a sample list of publishers who have adopted Lexile measures, click here.
- For more information on the Lexile measurement process, click here.
- For sample Lexile language to include in a textbook adoption Request for Proposal (RFP), click here.
3. Educating teachers on how Lexile measures support differentiated instruction
Lexile measures provide educators with actionable information about a student's reading ability. By comparing the student's Lexile measure with the Lexile measure of a textbook, teachers can determine how the two compare—whether the text demand is too difficult, too easy or just right for the student's reading ability—and then supplement instruction as necessary.
- For more information on using Lexile measures at school, click here.
- For more information on using Lexile measures in the library, click here.
- For more information on Lexile professional development, click here.
4. Extending learning beyond the classroom
Research shows that nearly all children will experience some loss in reading ability over summer break, primarily due to a lack of practice. Children of less affluent families are especially susceptible because they often go home to low-literacy environments. By connecting young people with books that match both their reading ability and interests, many of them can avoid this backslide and continue building their reading skills outside of the classroom.
- For more information on summer loss, click here.
- For more information on using Lexile measures and "Find a Book" to mitigate summer loss, click here.
5. Quantifying postsecondary text demands
MetaMetrics works with state education departments and boards of higher education to survey the textbooks used in typical entrance level courses offered within the technical, community college and university systems. Using the Lexile Framework, MetaMetrics conducts a text demand analysis to compare the results with current exit-level standards for high school graduation. These text demand studies provide valuable insight into student readiness for postsecondary text demands.
- For more information on postsecondary text demand studies, click here.
- To view a sample postsecondary text demand report that MetaMetrics developed for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, click here.
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